Tata Steel

[Dan Scoones]

Re: Tata Steel

All eyes on Valentina Gunina in the Challengers tournament.

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Tata Steel

So do you like her at 40/1, Dan? (:

[Dan Scoones]

Re: Tata Steel

Oh, I'm not suggesting she's going to win, but I think she's going to score more than a few points. Underneath the sweet exterior is one steely competitor. Anyone who cares to study her games can see this for themselves.

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Tata Steel

With Zhao Jun's 8/9 at Hastings and Ni Hua's 7/7 at the Australian Open (with 4 rounds to play), maybe Ding Liren at 30 to 1 is worth a flyer (:

I could point out that he's never lost to the 3 favourites but then again he's never faced either Carlsen or Caruana. He has scored 1.5/2 against Aronian. I see also that he drew his only match with Giri and has a win and 4 draws against So. I might just be talking myself into a longshot bet here (:

[Dan Scoones]

Re: Tata Steel

The issue is likely there are no Russian players. Considering where the event is being held I can understand the players from the Netherlands but no Russians is putting politics into sports.

GM Valentina Gunina is a Russian player, and she received a special invitation to the Challengers tournament.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Tata Steel

Tata Steel 2015

Masters Participants

Name Country Rating Position

GM Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2862 1
GM Caruana, Fabiano ITA 2820 2
GM Aronian, Levon ARM 2797 6
GM Giri, Anish NED 2784 7
GM So, Wesley USA 2762 10
GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime FRA 2757 13
GM Wojtaszek, Radoslaw POL 2744 15
GM Radjabov, Teimour AZE 2734 20
GM Ding, Liren CHN 2732 22
GM Jobava, Baadur GEO 2727 26
GM Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2715 33
GM Hou, Yifan CHN 2673 70
GM Van Wely, Loek NED 2667 81
GM Saric, Ivan CRO 2666 82

Average rating : 2746
Category : 20
FIDE-ratings of January 2015

Challengers Participants

Name Country Rating

GM Navara, David CZE 2729
GM Wei, Yi CHN 2675
GM Shankland, Sam USA 2652
GM Van Kampen, Robin NED 2615
GM l' Ami, Erwin NED 2613
GM Potkin, Vladimir RUS 2608
GM Saleh, Salem UAE 2603
GM Timman, Jan NED 2593
GM Michiels, Bart BEL 2563
GM Gunina, Valentina RUS 2538
GM Klein, David NED 2517
IM Sevian, Samuel USA 2511
WIM Haast, Anne NED 2352
IM Dale, Ari AUS 2291

Average rating : 2561
Category : 13
FIDE-ratings of January 2015

Wijk aan Zee is preparing for the start of the 77th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. The opening ceremony will take place on Friday 9 January. The first round commences on Saturday 10 January.

Official Site: http://www.tatasteelchess.com

Live commentary 2015 on this site:

Saturday 10 January Yasser Seirawan
Sunday 11 January Yasser Seirawan
Monday 12 January Yasser Seirawan
Tuesday 13 January Yasser Seirawan
Thursday 15 January (Rotterdam) Yasser Seirawan & Tex de Wit
Friday 16 January Yasser Seirawan
Saturday 17 January Yasser Seirawan
Sunday 18 January Yasser Seirawan
Tuesday 20 January Hans Bohm & Yochanan Afek
Wednesday 21 January (The Hague) Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam & John van der Wiel
Friday 23 January Yasser Seirawan
Saturday 24 January Yasser Seirawan
Sunday 25 January Yasser Seirawan

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Tata Steel

Tata Steel 2015

Schedule of Tata Steel Masters

Round 1 - Saturday the 10th

Radjabov, T. - Van Wely, L.
Ivanchuk, V. - Jobava, B.
Vachier-Lagrave, M. - Hou, Y.
Ding, L. - Caruana, F.
Saric, I. - Aronian, L.
Giri, A. - Carlsen, M.
So, W. - Wojtaszek, R.

Round 2 - Sunday the 11th

Van Wely, L. - Wojtaszek, R.
Carlsen, M. - So, W.
Aronian, L. - Giri, A.
Caruana, F. - Saric, I.
Hou, Y. - Ding, L.
Jobava, B. - Vachier-Lagrave, M.
Radjabov, T. - Ivanchuk, V.

Round 3 - Monday the 12th

Ivanchuk, V. - Van Wely, L.
Vachier-Lagrave, M. - Radjabov, T.
Ding, L. - Jobava, B.
Saric, I. - Hou, Y.
Giri, A. - Caruana, F.
So, W. - Aronian, L.
Wojtaszek, R. - Carlsen, M.

Round 4 - Tuesday the 13th

Van Wely, L. - Carlsen, M.
Aronian, L. - Wojtaszek, R.
Caruana, F. - So, W.
Hou, Y. - Giri, A.
Jobava, B. - Saric, I.
Radjabov, T. - Ding, L.
Ivanchuk, V. - Vachier-Lagrave, M.

Round 5 - Thursday the 15th

Vachier-Lagrave, M. - Van Wely, L.
Ding, L. - Ivanchuk, V.
Saric, I. - Radjabov, T.
Giri, A. - Jobava, B.
So, W. - Hou, Y.
Wojtaszek, R. - Caruana, F.
Carlsen, M. - Aronian, L.

Round 6 - Friday the 16th

Van Wely, L. - Aronian, L.
Caruana, F. - Carlsen, M.
Hou, Y. - Wojtaszek, R.
Jobava, B. - So, W.
Radjabov, T. - Giri, A.
Ivanchuk, V. - Saric, I.
Vachier-Lagrave, M. - Ding, L.

Round 7 - Saturday the 17th

Ding, L. - Van Wely, L.
Saric, I. - Vachier-Lagrave, M.
Giri, A. - Ivanchuk, V.
So, W. - Radjabov, T.
Wojtaszek, R. - Jobava, B.
Carlsen, M. - Hou, Y.
Aronian, L. - Caruana, F.

Round 8 - Sunday the 18th

Van Wely, L. - Caruana, F.
Hou, Y. - Aronian, L.
Jobava, B. - Carlsen, M.
Radjabov, T. - Wojtaszek, R.
Ivanchuk, V. - So, W.
Vachier-Lagrave, M. - Giri, A.
Ding, L. - Saric, I.

Round 9 - Tuesday the 20th

Saric, I. - Van Wely, L.
Giri, A. - Ding, L.
So, W. - Vachier-Lagrave, M.
Wojtaszek, R. - Ivanchuk, V.
Carlsen, M. - Radjabov, T.
Aronian, L. - Jobava, B.
Caruana, F. - Hou, Y.

Round 10 - Wednesday the 21st

Van Wely, L. - Hou, Y.
Jobava, B. - Caruana, F.
Radjabov, T. - Aronian, L.
Ivanchuk, V. - Carlsen, M.
Vachier-Lagrave, M. - Wojtaszek, R.
Ding, L. - So, W.
Saric, I. - Giri, A.

Round 11 - Friday the 23rd

Giri, A. - Van Wely, L.
So, W. - Saric, I.
Wojtaszek, R. - Ding, L.
Carlsen, M. - Vachier-Lagrave, M.
Aronian, L. - Ivanchuk, V.
Caruana, F. - Radjabov, T.
Hou, Y. - Jobava, B.

Round 12 - Saturday the 24th

Van Wely, L. - Jobava, B.
Radjabov, T. - Hou, Y.
Ivanchuk, V. - Caruana, F.
Vachier-Lagrave, M. - Aronian, L.
Ding, L. - Carlsen, M.
Saric, I. - Wojtaszek, R.
Giri, A. - So, W.

Round 13 - Sunday the 25th

So, W. - Van Wely, L.
Wojtaszek, R. - Giri, A.
Carlsen, M. - Saric, I.
Aronian, L. - Ding, L.
Caruana, F. - Vachier-Lagrave, M.
Hou, Y. - Ivanchuk, V.
Jobava, B. - Radjabov, T.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Tata Steel

Tata Steel 2015

Schedule of Tata Steel Challengers

Round 1 - Saturday the 10th

Shankland, S. - Wei, Y.
Dale, A. - Haast, A.
Navara, D. - l' Ami, E.
Timman, J. - Klein, D.
Van Kampen, R. - Sevian, S.
Michiels, B. - Gunina, V.
Saleh, S. - Potkin, V.

Round 2 - Sunday the 11th

Wei, Y. - Potkin, V.
Gunina, V. - Saleh, S.
Sevian, S. - Michiels, B.
Klein, D. - Van Kampen, R.
l' Ami, E. - Timman, J.
Haast, A. - Navara, D.
Shankland, S. - Dale, A.

Round 3 - Monday the 12th

Dale, A. - Wei, Y.
Navara, D. - Shankland, S.
Timman, J. - Haast, A.
Van Kampen, R. - l' Ami, E.
Michiels, B. - Klein, D.
Saleh, S. - Sevian, S.
Potkin, V. - Gunina, V.

Round 4 - Tuesday the 13th

Wei, Y. - Gunina, V.
Sevian, S. - Potkin, V.
Klein, D. - Saleh, S.
l' Ami, E. - Michiels, B.
Haast, A. - Van Kampen, R.
Shankland, S. - Timman, J.
Dale, A. - Navara, D.

Round 5 - Thursday the 15th

Navara, D. - Wei, Y.
Timman, J. - Dale, A.
Van Kampen, R. - Shankland, S.
Michiels, B. - Haast, A.
Saleh, S. - l' Ami, E.
Potkin, V. - Klein, D.
Gunina, V. - Sevian, S.

Round 6 - Friday the 16th

Wei, Y. - Sevian, S.
Klein, D. - Gunina, V.
l' Ami, E. - Potkin, V.
Haast, A. - Saleh, S.
Shankland, S. - Michiels, B.
Dale, A. - Van Kampen, R.
Navara, D. - Timman, J.

Round 7 - Saturday the 17th

Timman, J. - Wei, Y.
Van Kampen, R. - Navara, D.
Michiels, B. - Dale, A.
Saleh, S. - Shankland, S.
Potkin, V. - Haast, A.
Gunina, V. - l' Ami, E.
Sevian, S. - Klein, D.

Round 8 - Sunday the 18th

Wei, Y. - Klein, D.
l' Ami, E. - Sevian, S.
Haast, A. - Gunina, V.
Shankland, S. - Potkin, V.
Dale, A. - Saleh, S.
Navara, D. - Michiels, B.
Timman, J. - Van Kampen, R.

Round 9 - Tuesday the 20th

Van Kampen, R. - Wei, Y.
Michiels, B. - Timman, J.
Saleh, S. - Navara, D.
Potkin, V. - Dale, A.
Gunina, V. - Shankland, S.
Sevian, S. - Haast, A.
Klein, D. - l' Ami, E.

Round 10 - Wednesday the 21st

Wei, Y. - l' Ami, E.
Haast, A. - Klein, D.
Shankland, S. - Sevian, S.
Dale, A. - Gunina, V.
Navara, D. - Potkin, V.
Timman, J. - Saleh, S.
Van Kampen, R. - Michiels, B.

Round 11 - Friday the 23rd

Michiels, B. - Wei, Y.
Saleh, S. - Van Kampen, R.
Potkin, V. - Timman, J.
Gunina, V. - Navara, D.
Sevian, S. - Dale, A.
Klein, D. - Shankland, S.
l' Ami, E. - Haast, A.

Round 12 - Saturday the 24th

Wei, Y. - Haast, A.
Shankland, S. - l' Ami, E.
Dale, A. - Klein, D.
Navara, D. - Sevian, S.
Timman, J. - Gunina, V.
Van Kampen, R. - Potkin, V.
Michiels, B. - Saleh, S.

Round 13 - Sunday the 25th

Saleh, S. - Wei, Y.
Potkin, V. - Michiels, B.
Gunina, V. - Van Kampen, R.
Sevian, S. - Timman, J.
Klein, D. - Navara, D.
l' Ami, E. - Dale, A.

General information on the grandmaster groups

Schedule

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has two main tournaments. They are played according to the 'round robin' system, whereby each competitor plays in turn against every other during the tournament. The Tata Steel Masters has 14 participants and the Tata Steel Challengers has 14 participants. Both groups start on January 10th 2015. All rounds in Wijk aan Zee begin at 13.30 hours, except for the last round on January 25th, which begins at 12.00 hours.

Time Control

The time control is: 100 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the remaining moves with 30 seconds cumulative increment for each move starting from the first move.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Tata Steel

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has two main tournaments.

It has three amateurs events too. I like this bold info: "Nine-round event (16 - 25 January); max. 620 participants" :)

[Alex Ferreira]

Re: Tata Steel

I like this tournament. Always a very decent mix between the world's best and upcoming superstars, many of them playing their first super-tournament at Wijk aan Zee. With the added locals who I care less for, but hey, they're putting on the show.

Picking Wei Yi to win the challengers (easy choice really), and Wesley So to win the top section (don't actually believe his chances are very good, but always hoping to see something different).

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Tata Steel

Leonard Barden calls Tata Steel the "Dutch Wimbledon" (:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...abiano-caruana

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Tata Steel

I like this tournament. Always a very decent mix between the world's best and upcoming superstars, many of them playing their first super-tournament at Wijk aan Zee. With the added locals who I care less for, but hey, they're putting on the show.

Picking Wei Yi to win the challengers (easy choice really), and Wesley So to win the top section (don't actually believe his chances are very good, but always hoping to see something different).

It would certainly appear a lot of money is going Wei Yi's way, Alex. Navarra started out as the prohibitive favourite in the Challengers 2015 but now it's almost a toss up between the two.

https://www.betmarathon.com/en/betting/Chess/

I find some of the R1 game odds puzzling, most notably the Radjabov - Van Welly line. Radjabov is 5/4 to win while Van Wely is 10 to 1 despite the fact that the empirical evidence says this is essentially a coin flip (I'd only give Radjabov the colour advantage, so maybe 55/45). In 10 prior classical matches, it's dead even at 3 wins apiece with 4 draws. And Van Wely is plus 1 in 4 shorter time control games. The Dutch should be jumping on these odds (:

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Tata Steel

Carlsen remains winless in 7 career matches against Giri. Giri won their first encounter in 2011 at Tata Steel and today was their 6th consecutive draw.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Tata Steel

I find some of the R1 game odds puzzling, most notably the Radjabov - Van Welly line. Radjabov is 5/4 to win while Van Wely is 10 to 1

What was an odd for the draw?

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Tata Steel

What was an odd for the draw?

I can no longer give you the precise odds, Egis, since I didn't save them to my computer, but I can tell you that all 7 R1 'A' matches had draw odds of less than even money, which is not the case tomorrow in 2 of the games (Carlsen/So & Caruana/Saric).

https://www.betmarathon.com/en/betting/Chess/